Hey you guys I think Dirty bike got caught in his words, I believe he only meant the F650gs will not tour full loaded two up in all season weather and is wrung out at 75-80. Not the Tiger XC. Maybe the thrashing started on him and he just went with it from there. But i think he originally was speaking only of the F650GS. If this is the case he is correct. It struggles loaded up and wouldn't be the best bike for long distance touring 2 up. IMHO.

His original quote:

"And the wife rides an '11 F650GS twin, (798cc) and it is wrung out at 75-80"

Yes he talks about he XC in a sentence before this one that he said his freind owned. But the XC was not within this sentence.
I am sure his friend commented to him that he would prefer a larger bike due to his heavy loaded touring expectations. I think his friend was only talking about that and not the power of the XC- As it it obviously can do it and has plenty.

Or he assumes any 800 is like the F650GS then I stand corrected--He is out of his proverbial mind.

I think Yamaha Tenere. Looked at all the other s and gave uo and purchased a S10. Owned it for a month and 500 miles later I really impressed. It is a great bike and built like a tank. When I removed the right cowl fairing and looked at the quality of the relays and wiring harness I fell in love with the bike! It ids a simple and easy to work on, pulls the front tire no problem, and goes like crazy o to 75 mph.

The Super Tenere is a solid bike. Shaft drive, yammer heritage, lots of doo-dads. Were it not for the Tiger I might be on one, or more likely a 990 Adventure.

I also think they are a good choice for a large rider, a big muscular guy that can handle the weight. At 175lbs and getting old and weak, I could tell it was too much bike for me.

I met up with the OP here, Kalitrailrider, with his new XC on Monday. We put some break-in miles on his bike, a couple of hundred miles out in the Anza area northeast of San Diego, and had a blast. Bike fits him well and he was scooting right along. He's a happy rider! Pix later.

I think Yamaha Tenere. Looked at all the other s and gave uo and purchased a S10. Owned it for a month and 500 miles later I really impressed. It is a great bike and built like a tank. When I removed the right cowl fairing and looked at the quality of the relays and wiring harness I fell in love with the bike! It ids a simple and easy to work on, pulls the front tire no problem, and goes like crazy o to 75 mph.

I have to agree its a pretty solid bike. I tested one before I rode an XC. Seemed well built and has great balance. Just doesnt have much character. The motor acted like it needed a boost in acceleration on the low end. I know there is a trick to jump a switch out for better acceleration but the one I rode was bone stock. I can see the appeal to some though.

I met up with the OP here, Kalitrailrider, with his new XC on Monday. We put some break-in miles on his bike, a couple of hundred miles out in the Anza area northeast of San Diego, and had a blast. Bike fits him well and he was scooting right along. He's a happy rider! Pix later.

Last year I test rode a Tiger XC at Doug Douglas and was impressed by the low and mid range. It 's grunty! The high end is, like all Triumph triples, always there if you want it.

I've owned a R1150GS and a R1100S BCR (and bunch of Airheads). Later I picked up a 2001 Sprint RS 955i (for $2,500!) that was superior to the big boxers in almost every way, I was amazed. I don't especially like or dislike the triple engine exhaust sound but the power and smoothness is undeniable.

I had to sell the RS as I got a three level fusion surgery in my neck back in Nov. The recovery is 6-12 months and I didn't want to deal with keeping it happy. And it's depressing enough going through this without having to look at a bike every day and you can't ride. I won't be able to really sit a sport bike anymore, even a comfy one like the Sprint, so the XC (or Roadie) is top of my list when the Doc says I'm recovered.

Today the friend I sold the Sprint RS to came by and he was riding a Tiger 955i he'd just bought! I have never sat on one much less ridden one. So I did pick it up off the stand and sit on it - I liked it, enough that I may keep an eye out for one. When he took off it sounded identical to the RS.

We not talking "tuning" we are talking basics, more cubic inches/cubic centimeters means more torque end of story. No cover ups necessary by bring in exhaust back pressure, Oh, please.

Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean it isn't true.

While it IS true that "There's no replacement for displacement", is is also true that if that were the only factor in torque production then all engines would produce peak torque from idle to redline.

A 3.3 litre model A motor puts out only slightly more peak torque than my 1.2 litre '07 GS. The low compression model A engine hits its peak torque output @ well under 2k rpm while the GS spins past 5k to reach it's peak, and the difference is entirely caused by the factors I mentioned. A ninja 250 hits peak torque at over 9k, IIRC. It's ALL about tuning, and BTW, the Tiger 800 is tuned to produce at least 90% of it's peak thruout the rev range, unlike almost any other engine.
AT 3,500 rpm, the Tiger and GS both put out about the same torque.

...and then we have the other side of the coin. If you can't tell the difference it's because you're not paying attention. NOT because there isn't one

...unfortunately there is little if any difference between "paying attention" and experienced rider senses to be of any significance there kip... Maybe you need to chill on the ham sandwiches if you are "feeling" the difference.

I'll admit I love my XC, but that love comes from riding plenty of other bikes and the distinguishing impression it has provided.

Sorry to interrupt your physics lesson...

(EDIT: you're a GS owner with prostate issues. Of course you feel everything)

...unfortunately there is little if any difference between "paying attention" and experienced rider senses to be of any significance there kip... Maybe you need to chill on the ham sandwiches if you are "feeling" the difference.

I'll admit I love my XC, but that love comes from riding plenty of other bikes and the distinguishing impression it has provided.

Sorry to interrupt your physics lesson...

(EDIT: you're a GS owner with prostate issues. Of course you feel everything)

My remark was that if YOU can't tell the difference in YOUR bike (ANY bike) between solo, and 2 up with luggage, you've never actually ridden a bike at all. Adding over 100 lbs to your loaded weight makes a huge difference in suspension compression and torque to weight ratio. On "your" Tiger, the torque divided by wieght nets about 20% less power per pound with an average passenger and luggage than it does solo.

Your assinine remarks about ham sandwitches have nothing to do with anyone's ability to tell if thier bike is carrying a passenger and luggage or not. FWIW, I'm a fit 6'-1" and 220 lbs and even if I weighed twice that I'd STILL know if somebody was on the back of the bike (both in acceleration and suspension). Anyone who thinks otherwise has never been on a bike before, and I'm confident you haven't.